Pairing the bold and spicy flavors of Air Fryer Firecracker Salmon Bites with "The Night Watchman" by Louise Erdrich and a refreshing Elderflower Gin Fizz makes for a delightful sensory experience. "The Night Watchman" offers a profound exploration of historical themes with its richly woven narrative, which complements the vibrant taste of the salmon bites. The Elderflower Gin Fizz, with its floral and citrus notes, adds a refreshing counterbalance to the spiciness of the salmon, creating a well-rounded culinary and literary evening. Together, they provide an engaging experience that stimulates both the palate and the mind.
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon fillets, skin removed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- Sliced green onions, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the salmon: In a large bowl, toss the salmon pieces with olive oil, salt, and pepper to coat them evenly.
- Make the firecracker sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the sriracha sauce, honey, soy sauce, lime juice, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil until well combined.
- Marinate the salmon: Pour half of the firecracker sauce over the salmon pieces, tossing to coat evenly. Let the salmon marinate for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Air fry the salmon: Arrange the marinated salmon pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. Cook the salmon at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until they are crispy on the outside and cooked through.
- Glaze the salmon: Once the salmon bites are cooked, transfer them to a large bowl. Drizzle the remaining firecracker sauce over the salmon and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve: Garnish the Air Fryer Firecracker Salmon Bites with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
The Night Watchman
Set in 1953, this novel tells the powerful story of Thomas Wazhashk, a night watchman and Chippewa Council member, and his struggles against a U.S. Congress termination bill that threatens to displace his people. Based on the life of the author's grandfather, Erdrich blends a haunting historical tale with profound themes of identity, resilience, and the fight for justice.
WINNER OF THE 2021 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WASHINGTON POST, NPR, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, KIRKUS, CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman. Thomas Wazhashk is the night watchman at the jewel bearing plant, the first factory located near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota. He is also a Chippewa Council member who is trying to understand the consequences of a new “emancipation” bill on its way to the floor of the United States Congress. It is 1953 and he and the other council members know the bill isn’t about freedom; Congress is fed up with Indians. The bill is a “termination” that threatens the rights of Native Americans to their land and their very identity. How can the government abandon treaties made in good faith with Native Americans “for as long as the grasses shall grow, and the rivers run”? Since graduating high school, Pixie Paranteau has insisted that everyone call her Patrice. Unlike most of the girls on the reservation, Patrice, the class valedictorian, has no desire to wear herself down with a husband and kids. She makes jewel bearings at the plant, a job that barely pays her enough to support her mother and brother. Patrice’s shameful alcoholic father returns home sporadically to terrorize his wife and children and bully her for money. But Patrice needs every penny to follow her beloved older sister, Vera, who moved to the big city of Minneapolis. Vera may have disappeared; she hasn’t been in touch in months, and is rumored to have had a baby. Determined to find Vera and her child, Patrice makes a fateful trip to Minnesota that introduces her to unexpected forms of exploitation and violence, and endangers her life. Thomas and Patrice live in this impoverished reservation community along with young Chippewa boxer Wood Mountain and his mother Juggie Blue, her niece and Patrice’s best friend Valentine, and Stack Barnes, the white high school math teacher and boxing coach who is hopelessly in love with Patrice. In the Night Watchman, Louise Erdrich creates a fictional world populated with memorable characters who are forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature. Illuminating the loves and lives, the desires and ambitions of these characters with compassion, wit, and intelligence, The Night Watchman is a majestic work of fiction from this revered cultural treasure.
Discussion Questions
- How does the author use fiction to address real historical events in 'The Night Watchman'?
- Discuss the significance of Thomas Wazhashk’s role as a night watchman and how it symbolizes his protective nature towards his community.
- In what ways does the book explore the theme of identity?
- How does Patrice embody resilience and determination throughout the novel?
- Analyze the relationship between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous characters in the book.
- What role does family play in the novel, and how does it influence the characters’ decisions?
- How are dreams used as a motif in the story, and what do they represent?
- Discuss the impact of the termination bill on the Chippewa community and their response to it.
- How does Erdrich portray the interconnectedness of people and nature in the novel?
- What does the novel suggest about the power of community in the face of adversity?
Authors:
Louise Erdrich
ISBN: 0062671189
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published Date: 2020-03-03
Elderflower Gin Fizz
A light and refreshing cocktail that combines the floral notes of elderflower with the crispness of gin and the citrusy flavor of lemon, making it a perfect pairing for spicy and flavorful dishes.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz gin
- 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Club soda
- Lemon wheel, for garnish
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions
- In a shaker filled with ice, combine gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with club soda and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon wheel and a mint sprig.